...But the kitsune's luck has run out...
The Shogun's jorogumo minion has spotted Ogon Fox hiding in a cherry tree of the grove it lairs in, and disguised as a beautiful young maiden, approaches, singing a lovely Japanese folksong...
In Japanese to the jorogumo: Stay away from me, "fair maiden"! I know what you are!
Fox leaps out of the cherry tree and backs away from the jorogumo...
...But the kitsune's luck has run out...
The Shogun's jorogumo minion has spotted Ogon Fox hiding in a cherry tree of the grove it lairs in, and disguised as a beautiful young maiden, approaches, singing a lovely Japanese folksong...
In Japanese to the jorogumo: Stay away from me, "fair maiden"! I know what you are!
Fox leaps out of the cherry tree and backs away from the jorogumo...
Singing sweetly: Watashi o osoreru na, chīsana kitsune... Watashi wa tada no koibito o sagashite iru kodokuna otomedesu...
Run away, Mister Fox! It's a trap! chirps Orpheus, flapping his wings furiously and hovering in front of Fox's snout in an attempt to distract him from the jorogumo's sweet singing and enchantments...
Fox turns and bolts toward a grove of weeping willows, hoping to lose the jorogumo in the drooping foliage...
Fox turns and bolts toward a grove of weeping willows, hoping to lose the jorogumo in the drooping foliage...
The jorogumo pretends to weep, a mockery of human sorrow...
In Japanese: What's wrong, little Fox!? Do you not think me beautiful? Or is it my singing that displeases you?
Then she laughs cruelly and transforms into her true monstrous shape...
"This is five of Nine, we wants to beat the anti-Christ Nero. He has been locked her for a long time. So I set him free. Now he is going to help me make a device to hold books, do you want to make something"
He goes over to a fabricator.
"five of Nine, do you know how to work this fabricator?"
5 of 9 replies to Lord Perpireen telepathically: Affirmative, Lord Perpireen. What shall we manufacture?
[dice=perception]1d20+1
[dice=perception]1d20+1Alexei wanders towards the commotion when he hears Zagathoth loudly expressing concerns. He scowls when he spots the foolish fey releasing a prisoner, and carrying some device that appears to be from the future.
Lucius may have been right... we can’t let anyone stay on board for long, it seems...
Hurrying back to the helm, the Rabbi sits at the controls and promptly attempts the leap to Kyoto, two weeks ago... at night time... underwater, just off the coast (so the pyramid is obscured by the water, but within teleportation range).
Seated at the helm, the Rabbi is immediately reattuned to the Black Pyramid, and manipulating its complex array of controls, wills the artifact to travel far away, to the sea just off the coast of Honshu Island in Japan, nearest the city of Kyoto, two weeks earlier...
The Pyramid obeys...
It now hovers underwater, its pointed apex just below sea level, off the coast of Honshu Island, near Kyoto City.
It is an hour before noon on Monday, 8th January, Year of Our Lord 1437...
Having arrived at their destination, the Rabbi immediately teleports himself and his companions out of the Pyramid, to the shore a mile or so from the city.
"We have arrived at our destination," he announces as a scowl creeps over his face. "Hmm... I meant to arrive under the cover of darkness, but I suppose this will do..." He points inland and instructs, "the city is about a mile due west of here. I need to find a better place to leave the pyramid, where nobody is going to stumble across it. Meet me at the Jade Dragon Inn."
With that, the Rabbi blinks away leaving his companions stranded on the beach.
Having arrived at their destination, the Rabbi immediately teleports himself and his companions out of the Pyramid, to the shore a mile or so from the city.
"We have arrived at our destination," he announces as a scowl creeps over his face. "Hmm... I meant to arrive under the cover of darkness, but I suppose this will do..." He points inland and instructs, "the city is about a mile due west of here. I need to find a better place to leave the pyramid, where nobody is going to stumble across it. Meet me at the Jade Dragon Inn."
With that, the Rabbi blinks away leaving his companions stranded on the beach.
Having arrived after nightfall on Monday night, 8th January, the Rabbi navigating the Black Pyramid of Kronos to a point underwater off the coast of Honshu Island, as near to Kyoto City as possible, he then abruptly teleports the party, along with Gray Alchemist 5 of 9, to a point inland just outside Kyoto City.
Announcing that he will meet them at the Jade Dragon Inn in Kyoto after he hides the Pyramid in a safer place, the Rabbi teleports back to the helm of the Pyramid without further explanation, a stern and troubled scowl on his normally calm countenance...
The rest of the party now finds itself stranded on the beach outside Kyoto City on a night before an ill-fated day dawns...
At that very moment in Rome, at the Palazzo D'Borja, Toshio Okumura (a.k.a. Ogon Fox) is lying on his bed, recovering from an assassin's attempt to murder him the night before, right after Okumura won the organetto of building in Duke de'Medici's organ contest, in which Okumura defeated famed English composer-organist John Dunstable!
Johann has been worried about Fox, and hasn't left his friend's side since the ninja assassin was caught (and succumbed to his wounds before Bear Johann could carry him back to the Basilica to be healed)... Tomorrow morning, seeing Fox improving, Johann will grow bored hanging out at Fox's bedside, and will begin to watch and mimic the martial arts practiced by the monks of Saint Michael at Castle Sant'Angelo...
Quinlan the tiefling wizard is busy crafting magic items for his allies: a headband for Johann, at the moment... He remains cloistered in a workshop at Palazzo D'Borja for most of the day and night...
Cardinal Lucius D'Borja, much concerned by last night's assassin encounter, and suspecting that it won't be the last, is in his chapel at his Palazzo, praying for insight into the problem...
Boga, Hand of Jan Hus, is likewise concerned for his friend Fox's safety, and prays as well in his own room at the Palazzo D'Borja...
Arc Perdu practices with his new magical longsword, Sanguinelle in the courtyard of Palazzo D'Borja, trying to concentrate on the quest that lies before his companions and him, and ignore the ghost of Monsieur Du'Berry, which haunts him constantly for killing him in a duel...
Zagathoth has not yet discovered the pleasures of "making the sex" with Wench Molly, but the wonders of soft bedding and servants that bring whatever delicious food or drink he requests is helping to keep the orc brawler entertained at the Palazzo...
....
Meanwhile, at this very moment, the heroes who would soon come to be known as the Desert Jackals--Wulfgar Ivarsson, Lord Perpireen McGibel, Mwikali and Kiku, Altin, etc.--are sailing aboard a Portuguese caravel bound for Morocco... They will reach the port of Anfa in a few hours, and their adventures in Morocco will begin...
All those who have been transported to Japan by the Black Pyramid of Kronos now exist simultaneously in two places at once, an anomaly that is sure to cause some kind of unforeseen consequences, but it cannot be helped now...
Outside of Kyoto City:
The Champions (and Gray Alchemist 5 of 9) stand in a group on the plain between the north coast of Honshu Island in Japan and Kyoto City, the Sea of Japan to the north a fair distance, and the light of many lanterns glittering in the darkness to the south marking the city of Kyoto, about an hour's march away still...
The adventurers begin to travel toward the city through the chill night...
A chill wind blows over the bamboo groves and banyan trees on the pebbly northern coast of Honshu, creating an eerie moaning music accompanied by the distant rumble of the Sea of Japan...
Lantern lights glitter in villages across the Japanese countryside, staving off the darkness and the creatures and spirits that dwell in it...
The sounds of nocturnal creatures on their nightly sojourns echo across the beach, mingled with music played by geisha, the gurgle of fountains, and cacophonies of town and city nightlife...
Zagathoth looks around at the strange land, and then at his strange companions. Turning to Bear he asks, "Wer ist ohne den Padre zuständig?"
Furrowing his prominent, orcish brow he adds, "Ich bin jetzt ein Prinz. Macht mich das?"
"I am an emir now, does that make me in charge?"
As the adventurers are making their way toward the largest concentration of lantern lights, they have a nocturnal encounter...
|
Johann turns to Zag. "Niemand. Ich schätze, schauen Sie zu mir, wenn Sie Hilfe brauchen, und denken Sie einfach daran, was der Kardinal uns beigebracht hat."
No one indeed. We are a powerful group, but certainly not united. None of these people is the leader that the Cardinal was. We shall see, I guess. We shall see...
A trio of evil, monstrous, oriental hunters just happens to be sojourning in the same area the adventurers are in...
A spirit naga, a baykok, and an adhukait asura creep through the banyans not far east of the party...
INITIATIVES:
BAYKOK
JOHANN KALTGEBOREN
GRAY ALCHEMIST 5 OF 9
SPIRIT NAGA
LORD PERPIREEN MCGIBEL
ADHUKAIT ASURA
ALGORAL
IHRIN ARDLEAN DRACUL
EMIR ZAGATHOTH THE DRAGONSLAYER
MWIKALI & KIKU
HABIBA AL-SAHIM
BATTLE ON THE BEACH!! ROUND 1!! FIGHT!! OOH OOH AH AH AH!!
GRAY ALCHEMIST 5 OF 9!
JOHANN KALTGEBOREN!
EMIR ZAGATHOTH THE DRAGONSLAYER!
HABIBA AL-SAHIM!
ADHUKAIT ASURA!
LORD PERPIREEN MCGIBEL!
IHRIN ARDLEAN DRACULA!
ALGORAL THE HERALD OF THE NEVER-ENDING DANCE!
BAYKOK!
MWIKALI & KIKU!
SPIRIT NAGA!
FIGHT THE MONSTERS, NOT EACH OTHER!! EEEEEK!!
The trio of monsters that emerge from the nearby grove of banyans consists of a gaunt, undead archer known in Japan and Siam as the baykok, a serpentine monster with a snake-like body and a humanoid head called a spirit naga, and a wicked oriental outsider known in Hindi legends as an adhukait asura!
Zagathoth draws doomcresent as he rushes toward the demon-like foe . He calls to mind a lesson on swinging accurately even with great force and brings the heavy blade down in an attempt to hack into the creature.
,
Zagathoth draws doomcresent as he rushes toward the demon-like foe . He calls to mind a lesson on swinging accurately even with great force and brings the heavy blade down in an attempt to hack into the creature.
[dice=attack]1d20+17, [dice=for]2d4+20
The asura screeches from two mouths! YYYIIIIIIEEEEEEEECH!!!
The Gray Alchemist, shifting back and forth between this world and some other dimension, stares with its black, glassy eyes at the asura...
The Gray Alchemist, shifting back and forth between this world and some other dimension, stares with its black, glassy eyes at the asura...
In Infernal: HAHAHAHA!! YOUR GRAY MIND TRICKS WON'T WORK ON ME, BOY!!
Algoral is a bit confused at where or when he is, but he has never let that bother him over much before in his travels.
Thinking that perhaps raucous drumming may invite yet more unwanted attention he decides to inspire by a rousing chant rather than his usual percussive mastery.
Here we are on a dark beach, monsters appear right out of reach!
Fear not friends, for though we be time-lost and stranded,
it is our unlucky opponents who shall soon be disbanded!
Ihrin will fire both of her Wrist launchers at the Baykok
Mwikali activates her Ring of Force Shield
She then casts Enlarge Person on Zag
""Hören Sie mit dem Deutschen auf, sagen Sie einfach, Sie fragen sich, wer furchtlose Anführer sind, ist nach dem Verlust eines Kardinal. Ich persönlich denke, ich sollte es sein, ich bin ein König." Ihrin says in flawless German before she attacks.
""Nicht nur, dass meine beiden erfahrenen Krieger, ich habe den Verstand, die Geschicklichkeit und die Muskeln, um all unsere individuellen Fähigkeiten einzusetzen. Ich werde mich beklagen, dass ich nicht alles weiß, was Sie können, aber sobald ich es tue, werde ich uns sicher sein Gehen Sie in solche Kämpfe mit weniger ... Chaos und mehr Planung " She says after winking at the two before she readies to draw daggers for another assualt.
"Stop with the German, just say that you are wondering who are fearless leader is after the loss of a Cardinal. Personally I think it should be me, I am Royalty."
"Not only that my two seasoned warriors, I have the brains, skill and brawn to utilize all of our individual skill. I will lament that I do not know everything you can do but once I do I'll make sure we go intofights like these with less...chaos and more planning"
Before Lord P heads to the fabrication room, he remembers the Orc warlord.
"5 of 9, We have one thing to do 1st. I need to lock away he warlord we found, he is bad"
Going to the cell he, works to lock the orc away.
When he feels he has got the lock on the door working he turns to 9 of 5.
Lets go, we have to head to the command room. But as he goes he comes to the door and hears sounds that's someone is there.
"Wait here someone is there"
Lord P sneaks in to see Alexei frantically working.
He had seen what he was doing before, When he moved the pyramid and teleported the others. But who was he teleporting, NO could it be!!.
Alexei had said none should wheeled this power, that is was not mean to be held by mortals. Lord P flow back to 9 of 5.
"I don't have long 5 of 9, He has moved us, and I can feel the pull of the teleport. For setting you free 5 of 9, this is what I want you to do. One of us is seeking to take us all of this craft, but even then it will not be safe from mortal hands. He dose not know you are here, So when we have all left. I want to take control of it. Take it back home with you, back to your family in the past. Then tell your race to keep it safe. Keep it away from hands that would use it for evil. You understand keep it safe."
5 of 9 replies to Lord Perpireen telepathically: Affirmative, Lord Perpireen. What shall we manufacture?He goes over to a fabricator.
"five of Nine, do you know how to work this fabricator?"
When the adventurers are all ready, the Rabbi navigates the Black Pyramid of Kronos to a point underwater in the Sea of Japan, some fifty yards off the north coast of Honshu Island, under the cover of darkness, having also jumped backward nineteen days into the past, to 11 PM on Monday, 8th January!
The Rabbi then instructs the others to meet him at the Jade Dragon Inn before teleporting everyone except himself and Gray Alchemist 5 of 9 to a point about an hour's ride east of Kyoto City. It is here, on a dark, pebbly beach with groves of banyans and bamboo, that the heroes encounter a trio of oriental monsters hunting for prey...
As they come into being Lord P shows off his future device.
Lord Perpireen McGibel IMAGE HERE
"So what do you think, looks stylish?"
Its a new set of cloths, that's all, just a design he liked. All the time looking at the records, where he could have learned about future wars, leaders, events and danger. All he did with his time was look for a new set of threads to ware.
The works of the fey mind is really something to behold.
'it works for you, Me I went with this corset. it makes me appear slimmer and helps with magic too' She says before Casting Enlarge Person.
Johann transforms into his fuzzy, huggable, eat-your-face favorite form and moves toward the enemy, attempting to draw their attacks!
Ihrin will fire both of her Wrist launchers at the Baykok
[dice=#1]1d20+9+2
[dice=damage]1d4
[dice=#2]1d20+4+2
[dice=damage]1d4
Ihrin's first wrist dart pierces the gray flesh of the baykok on its left side, eliciting an angry snarl from the undead archer... but the second narrowly misses...
Ihrin will rush forward closing the gap between her and the Baykok before she strikes!
Mwikali will on her turn cast Enlarge Person on Johann!!! ( Dire Bear!)
The adhukait asura, a pair of spiked fiends interwoven through bodily cavities and impaling limbs, spins in a diabolical dance with their twin curved knives! They slash at Zagathoth with twin blades and claws!
The fiendish twins slash Zag twice, once with a Kukri and once with a claw, drawing blood from two wounds...
As the baykok draws back the sinewy string of its bone longbow (seemingly crafted from human vertebrae), arrows of bone materialize! It launches a volley of these ghastly missiles at Zagathoth, apparently ignoring Ihrin's darts to help its hunting partners (the adhukait and the naga) to take down one foe at a time...